We offer a wide range of outreach services aimed at engaging clients into services, but also to reduce the impact of intoxication and homelessness on the broader community and public systems
HELP (formerly DOAP) TEAM
BELTLINE INT’L AVE EAST VILLAGE MAIN /7
- Stands for Human-centered Engagement Liaison and Partnership (HELP)
- Initiated in 2005 as a mobile diversion response to streel level intoxication
- Consists of mobile teams covering a variety of areas across the city of Calgary
- Works closely with Calgary Police Services and Emergency Medical Services to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate uses when these services are not needed
- Responds to calls from businesses, community members, and other homeless-serving agencies
- Facilitates individual’s access and entry to the local service systems of shelters, health care, addiction treatment, and supportive housing
The program provides a model of how to engage with vulnerable persons. A social return on investment (SROI) demonstrated that for every dollar invested in the Program, there is a social return of $9.43.
3,500
unique clients served by the HELP (formerly DOAP) Team in FY21-22
18,730
interactions with clients in FY21-22
60-100
calls a day for the HELP (formerly DOAP) Team’s services
Encampment Team
403.805.7388
- Consists of one mobile response team working with the City of Calgary Bylaw
- Support “rough sleepers” to navigate them into appropriate supports including shelter, detox, and housing programs
- Provide clients with access to the shelter clinic, lunch, sleeping bags…etc.
1,014
unique clients worked with in FY21-22
3,264
interactions with clients in FY21-22
Needle Response Team
403.796.5334
- Began in January 2019
- Consists of one mobile response unit cleaning up needle and needle debris on public and private property
- Patrols “hot spots” looking for needle debris
- Responds to calls from community/business members to safely dispose of needle/needle debris
- Gives presentations to educate the public on how to safely dispose of needles and needle debris
3,049
calls from the public for needle debris pickup
95,237
Needle debris collected in FY21-22
29
training sessions for needle debris pickup provided in FY21-22
Ambassador Team
587.834.1785
- Began in July 2022
- Consists of two mobile response units working within the following Business Improvement Areas
- 17th Ave
- 4th St.
- Beltline
- Chinatown
- Victoria Park
- Responds to calls from businesses in the above areas needing support with incidences related to homelessness/substance use
- Work with street-involved individuals towards needed services: shelter, basic needs supplies, housing etc.
- Advocate for Alpha House clients, share about services, and support greater understanding of homelessness in the community
~197
business engagements per month (on average)
~176
client interactions per month (on average)
Transit Team
403.827.7106
- Began in 2019 as a partnership with Calgary Transit
- Consists of mobile response teams (one Alpha House worker with one Transit Peace Officer)
- Responds to calls from transit riders, transit help phone, and city calls to support those on the trains or platforms needing support related to homelessness
- Work with street-involved individuals towards needed services: shelter, basic needs supplies, housing etc.
- Advocate for Alpha House clients, share about services, and support greater understanding of homelessness in the community
